National Healthcare for the USA

by sammielee24 348 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  LDH

  As for the sensationalist article about an NHS foul-up, do you honestly believe that's commonplace?

  Yes, I do. And Yes, I do believe NHS in the UK is in financial trouble. I wonder what will happen when we have an NHS system that collapses under the Ponzi scheme construction....like Social Security over here. Six has claimed that the two are not congruent, but offered no proof.

  We know what happens when the bottom line swells....more money has to be paid in via increased taxation or the benefits have to be cut. Case in point, the article which pointed out not one but MANY instances of medical supply re-use. That is just sick.

  If the article had proved *your* point you'd be quick to claim it as legitimate.

  Lisa
• 

  LittleToe

  Well it's lasted 58 years. Longevity doesn't really seem to be an issue. Heck, most houses in California haven't been around that long...
• 

  freydi

  I haven't read all pages of this thread nor have I fully investigated if there are others similar, so apologies if there are more up to date discussions, but it has the right title. Was watching CNN tonight about pressing issues and they noted a successful couple whose lives got turned upside down when their child died and they were sent a $700,000 bill by the hospital, even though they had "good insurance," and is a scenario which could befall anybody. It struck me recently that in the all the political blather about health care and the governments role, that not one person, either running for office or a member of the venerable press, has mentioned why the medical profession has to continue to be enriched in the process whether they succeed or fail. It seems that if the oil companies are guilty of gross profiteering at the expense of the suffering public at the gas pump, why the medical/drug professions shouldn't be held up to the same public outrage. But no, it seems that the medicos are entitled all the money they can gouge and the adulation to go with it. The other day I heard that the 3rd leading cause of death in America is doctors. Years ago, Ralph Nader said in Readers Digest that 600,000 people every year were "killed" due to "medical negligence." Putting that into perspective think about the Vietnam War where 50,000 GI's were killed over 10 years, and people were trying to kill each other! People were protesting on a daily basis and drove Lyndon Johnson from the White House. Why don't people picket Congress and demand protection from doctors instead of just more legislation guaranteeing their enrichment. If the docs screw up, as it is, the only recourse is hire a mercenary lawyer, who winds up with most of the money after it's all over. I guess it just means that anybody who believes that voting brings representation in the government aren't much different that those who think pro wrestling is genuine sport as opposed to genuine farce.
• 

  ex-nj-jw

  I haven't read the entire thread but I have mixed feeling on National Healthcare. I think it would be great for those who work but can't afford the pay deductions for company sponsored healthcare, for people who don't have a job and of course children that are uninsured.

  With that said - I really like my benefits, the premiums are very affordable, the copays are minimal and I have excellent coverage. My kids are covered until they turn 24 regardless if they are in school or not. I would not want to be forced into healthcare program that is less than what I have now, I don't want to wait for hours upon hours to see a doctor or be seen in an ER. If I need "elective surgery" I want to be able to have it. I'm not talking about cosmetic surgery there are some elective surgeries that are done to relieve pain and discomfort, I've had several and I'm glad I had the option to have it.

  I understand that my situation may not be the "norm", believe me I've seen patients denied medication and procedures because their insurance company denies it. I hate most insurance companies. But I think it should be a choice an option like you can either have your company sponsored insurance or what the government offers.

  I guess as long as I have a choice I don't have a problem with it. I really need to do more reading on this topic.

  *going to search for more info*

  nj
• 

  brinjen

  A lot of countries that have socialised medicine also have a 'back out' avenue. You can either contribute to the countries medicare system by paying a medicare levy, or you can go private, in which case you're exempted from paying the levy. Simple.
• 

  PEC

  Barbie Doll and I have a Friend that had health insurance through her employer, she spent 8 days in the hospital and her share of the bill is $40,000, the insurance paid $5,000.

  I have good insurance and wouldn't want to give it up. But, there needs to be some minimum level for health coverage for everyone. What we have now is not working for more than 30 million Americans.

  Barbie Doll was without health insurance for five years, we were lucky, she didn't get sick or hurt during that time or we could have lost everything.

  If you are old or not in perfect health, you can not get private health insurance. If you are self-employed, your employer doesn't provide health insurance or you lose your good job, you are SOL..

  Cobra lets you keep your health insurance for up to 18 months if you lose your job. How many unemployed people can pay hundreds of dollars a month for health insurance. My employer pays over $300 a month for my health insurance.

  Philip
• 

  freydi

  So far nobody has said anything about the medical profession's entitlement to be worshiped and be millionaires working 3 days a week and get gold plated golf clubs for being pimps to the drug industry that is trying outlaw supplements in Canada.
  
  Canada's C-51 Law May Outlaw 60% of Natural Health Products;
  
  Pharma Pushing to Criminalize Supplements
  
  http://mms-miraclemineralsupplement.com/...10821.html
  
  (NaturalNews) A new law being pushed in Canada by Big Pharma seeks to outlaw up to 60 percent of natural health products currently sold in Canada, even while criminalizing parents who give herbs or supplements to their children. The law, known as C-51, was introduced by the Canadian Minister of Health on April 8th, 2008, and it proposes sweeping changes to Canada's Food and Drugs Act that could have devastating consequences on the health products industry.........
• 

  kurtbethel

  Where was the pilot program for this set up?
  
  What were the results, such as the ratio of costs to care provided compared to the present system?
  
  How long did the pilot program run?
  
  I ask this because the site was very vague about those details and that is important to know before deciding to support that particular plan.
• 

  freydi

  Come on folks, do you all believe in entitlement/enrichment for doctors and drug companies? Have you heard that the drug companies make more $$$ than oil companies? Should that be the main focus and number one priority of a national healthcare program? Or maybe doctors should be government employees making no more than the average bureaucrat? That would certainly limit lawsuits and the need for more attorneys since you can't sue the government, don't you think? Or are you of the opinion that as long as you have good insurance that can afford these scoundrels that everybody else can just tough it out, like "cow politics?"
  
  COW POLITICS
  DEMOCRAT You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office that put a tax on your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money, buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous. Barbara Streisand sings for you. SOCIALIST You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow. REPUBLICAN You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So? COMMUNIST You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour. CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows. DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government. BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain. AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up. FRENCH CORPORATION You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch. life is good. JAPANESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.